If You Have the Habit of Clenching Your Teeth, Please Fix It!

“Even when you are just sitting still,

are you unconsciously clenching your teeth tightly?”

“Do you wake up in the morning with a stiff jaw,

or a heavy feeling around your temples?”

If even one of these questions applies to you,

it may already be a signal

from your jaw and teeth.

The habit of “clenching your teeth,”

which many people overlook,

may seem like a simple habit,

but it can affect overall oral health more than you might think.

In particular, if it continues for a long time,

it can place a burden not only on the teeth

but also on temporomandibular joint function,

so early management is important.

In this article,

we will take a step-by-step look at why

this habit of clenching your teeth develops,

and what changes may appear

if it is left untreated. 👀

What causes the habit

of clenching your teeth?

It is difficult to attribute the cause of

a tightly clenched-teeth habit to just one specific factor.

It often appears unconsciously

when daily stress or tension continues,

and its frequency may increase

when anxiety or fatigue builds up.

It may also develop when sleep quality is poor,

when you toss and turn frequently during sleep,

or when the balance of the muscles around the jaw changes

after an external impact.

Recently, there have also been many cases

where clenching symptoms appear along with

increased tension in the muscles around the jaw

due to long hours of smartphone or computer use.

What changes appear in the teeth?

The surface of the teeth is protected

by a strong layer of enamel,

so it is easy to think they are not easily damaged.

However, when excessive pressure is repeatedly applied

rather than normal chewing,

these changes can occur in the tooth structure.

✔ Tiny cracks appear on the tooth surface ✔ Wear that gradually shortens the teeth ✔ Abrasion that hollows out the neck of the tooth ✔ Increased sensitivity when chewing ✔ In severe cases, part of the tooth may break

These changes may not be obvious at first,

but as time passes,

the symptoms can gradually become clearer.

In particular, if you become sensitive to cold foods

or feel discomfort when chewing,

it is necessary to visit a dental clinic

and get checked. 🦷

It also affects the temporomandibular joint!

The habit of clenching your teeth can affect

not only the teeth but also the temporomandibular joint.

For example, if you hear a “click” sound

when moving your jaw,

or feel pain when opening your mouth,

it may be a sign that stress is accumulating

in the joint.

If the symptoms progress,

the following changes may also appear.

✔ A feeling that it is hard to open the mouth wide ✔ Left-right imbalance in jaw movement ✔ Possible facial asymmetry changes ✔ Chronic headaches ✔ Increased muscle tension around the neck and shoulders

Temporomandibular joint problems often do not improve naturally

but rather progress slowly,

so early management is important.

To reduce the habit of clenching your teeth,

first of all, it is important to recognize your own condition.

Simply making a habit of checking whether you are

clenching your teeth when concentrating or feeling tense

can also help improvement.

In addition, light stretching to reduce stress,

getting enough rest,

and maintaining a regular sleep routine

can have a positive effect on easing tension

in the muscles around the jaw.

If you sit in the same position for long periods,

it also helps to relax the jaw and neck area

from time to time.

If symptoms continue or pain recurs,

you may also consider using a splint device.

Wearing a device made to fit your individual tooth structure

can help relieve tension in the jaw muscles

and reduce pressure on the teeth.

However, if you use an over-the-counter ready-made device on your own,

it may instead interfere with the balance of the temporomandibular joint,

so caution is needed.

This is how we have explained

about the habit of clenching your teeth.

Because clenching the teeth usually repeats unconsciously,

there are many cases where people do not realize they are doing it.

If your jaw feels stiff in the morning,

or you often get headaches for no clear reason,

please take a moment to check your lifestyle habits! 💚

서울오브치과병원 Seoul Of Dental Hospital 4th and 5th Floors, 196 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul